Should All Vehicles Have Tow Hooks
Page 57
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
MOT long ago a fatal accident occurred in Binning' ham because while one vehicle was towing another the tow rope fouled the steering of the second vehicle, at the same time fracturing some brake pipes. The driver lost control, and the wagon mounted the pavement, knocking down a pedestrian.
At the resulting inquest, the coroner suggested that the company concerned with the vehicle should, in such circumstances, use a towbar connected by ball joints. Such a bar may not be essential but, in my view, all commercial vehicles should be equipped with permanent towing hooks formed in one, where possible, with the dumbirons. This should .also apply to public-service vehicles.
The practice of running a rope to, or through, any available place in the chassis,. such as road springs, is not efficient and may cause trouble. If the
objection be that hooks or towing eyes „, itTe unsightly and do not blend with. modern design, theymight' be encased: on the principle that what the eye does not see the heart does not grieve at. A simple flap would be Sufficient in some cases 1 have had occasion to give tows to a number of vehicles of different types from time to time, and have been given similar assistance. The variety of bits and pieces of rope that are produced in such an emergency is amazing.
Birmingham. 6. F. C. FORSTER, CARRYING EX-WORKS UNDER C LICENCE
WILL you please advise me as to' whether Clause 2, " Sub-clause 4, of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, permits the holder of a C licence to deliver in his own vehicles goods that he manufactures when his contract for supply specifies that delivery is on ex-works terms.
It is understood that he will be paid separately for the transport. In other words, does the fact that under such terms the goods pass out of his ownership on leaving the works make it illegal for him to oonvey them? London, W.8. • " toptious. [We consider that you are quite in order in using a C-licensed vehicle for delivering goods in this way. The matter is really covered by the Road and Rail Traffic Act. 1933, Part 1. 1(5) (a), which says that for the purposes of the Act, the delivery or collection by a person of goods sold, used, ot let on hire or hire-purchase in the course of a trade or business carried on by him shall not be deemed to constitute a carrying of the goods for hire or reward. —En.]
TRAINING IN BODYBUILDING REQUIRED ADIFFICULTY is facing me regarding the further 1. -educationof my son, and it may. be that you can give me advice concerning-this.
He left'school last summer, having matriculated with ' eight credits out of the nine subjects he took. At his own request, he joined a bodybuilding concern, and has been in its shops until the New Year. Since then he has been engaged in the office, mainly with wages and timecards, but it is the intention of his chief that he shall eventually become leading draughtsman.
As this city is not highly important from the point of view of bodybuilding, the local technical 'college' has no suitable class to offer for evening or part-time study. whilst Loughborough is too far away. Could you, therefore, suggest a correspondence course that will be useful to him?
Leicester, "WORRIED."
[A course in bodybuilding for motor vehicles was arranged by the Iniernational Correspondence .Schools, Kingsway, London, W.C.2. but until they have the opportunity, of revising the course and bringing it up to date, they are
unable to offer instruction in this subject, and we do not know of any suitable course. As, however, you say that such instruelton is available at Loughborough, thiS appears to be the solution of the problem. The journey of 12-15 miles would probably take 60-90 minutes, which represents the time taken by some London students to reach their classes, whilst the majority certainly spends nearly as long on the journeys home. Unfortunately, the present session in most of such colleges is well advanced. Evening classes run' in connection with the examinations Of the City and Guilds terminate just before the examination late in April or the beginning of May, whilst those for part-time day classes usually close towards the end of July, conforming with the secondary-school timetable. In the meantime, a hook which might be helpful is " Motor Bady Drawing," by H. J. Butler, formerly published by W. R. Howell and Co. This is out of print, hut a copy might be borrowed through a central library. applying first to the librarian at your local municipal institution. This book describes 16 large folding plates contained in a special folder, and in applying, for it, state clearlY that the latter is also required. Leicester. with its many businesses, must have fairly large road transport facilities, with a sufficient number of young men working in the factories to form a class or classes. To do this requires the enthusiastic Co-operation of two or three employers in conjunction with the local educational authority. Amongst recent instances of such activity elsewhere, the head of a department of a certain technical college started a class by interviewing employers.' In another instance, one employer, by his enthusiasm, provided the nucleus of an evening class for the past three years by allowing all his apprentices to leave early on class nights, apart from paying their. fees and travelling expenses.—En.] READER FROM SIERRA LEONE REQUIRES SCHOLARSHIP I BEG to submit very respectfully this letter of appli cation, otherwise I should say letter, of obligation, for a free grant of Scholarship in your department; to pursue a course of training through you in the United Kingdom. One or two of my -Eden& are in England taking this same course of Scholarship, by adopting this same way, which might be your department or some other department. But as I have been lucky TO come across Your address I have seized the opportunity of writing this letter.
am at present under employment, and 11. am still wishful of having a Scholarship if yoti would not mind, and look .up for an early reply, which` I expect with
great anxiety. .
Freetown, Sierra Leone. J B MAcA.ot B.
[We 'regret that we have no Seliolarships to otter but we understand that such matters th'e normally arranged through the Colonial Office; id conjtincOmwith the Governor Of the Colony concerned; We th nk it.would therefore be advisable for Onr orresponsteqtIo make: the contact -Mentioned, which.COad flo doubt,be-dan'e through
his local authorities.--Eri.] \